Page 59 of Ancient Obsession

Oliver was surprised he had the ability to grin. “Is this the same cell Cody’s been in?”

“It is, but we’ve changed out the mattress.”

“Well, there’s that anyway.”

She unlocked the cell and entered, leaving the door ajar behind her. A bit of tension eased out of him.

Lucia settled on the opposite end of the cot, forearms on her knees and hands hanging loose between them as she studied the floor. After a couple of seconds, she looked at him.

“Want to tell me what’s really going on in Glenmont?”

Oliver huffed. “Sure you want to know?”

“No. But it’s probably best.” She squinted. “Is it werewolves? Or vampires?”

“Nope. All new movie monster this time. A mummy.”

“Jesus Christ.” Lucia’s mouth twisted, and the lines around her eyes deepened. “You’re sure?”

“Pretty damn sure.”

“We’ve got some time before Carter gets here. Can you give me an overview?”

“Will it help?”

“It will help me protect the people you love.”

“Yeah, I appreciate that. But I don’t think the mummy is built for long journeys.”

“Give me the debrief anyway. I’ve been through enough of this kind of shit with Laurel and Hardy. I might be able to poke some holes in Carter’s case without tipping him off he’s got a monster on his hands.”

So, Oliver explained it all. He even told her about finding Samira’s notebook and the scrap of fabric, leaving out the detail that Demetrius had possession of them. Lucia listened, stopping him every so often to ask a question. He finished it all up with, “And then you brought me here.” After a breath, he asked, “Vera’s really dead?”

“That’s what I understand. Did you know her well?”

He stared out beyond the bars. “No. She was kind but nervous. When the coffin was opened, and all that stuff sprayed out, it startled her so much she let go. That’s when I jumped in and took over.” He looked at her again. “Was she… Was it bad?”

“I don’t know the details. Carter just told me she’d been found in her apartment, and the door had been busted in.”

Oliver flinched. “Just like Lucien and Dominic. She must have been really terrified. How awful.”

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as tears threatened again.

“You’ve been through a lot just before your wedding.”

That proved a good distraction. He let out a muffled groan and leaned back, thumping his head against the cinderblock wall. “Don’t remind me. I get married in a week. What the hell was I thinking taking classes right now?”

“You were just trying to have a life,” Lucia said, her tone softer than Oliver had ever heard it.

“I bet you say that to all the guys you hold for questioning over the theft of a 3,000 year-old mummy and a few possibly related murders.”

“In this town, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.” They both chuckled, then Lucia turned serious again. “Make sure you and Dave get a good criminal lawyer. Phillip Davies over in Harriettville is good. Amanda Morgan in Thorndale is good, too. Whoever you find, they need to know all the details, even if they don’t believe you.”

He’d never been arrested before. Now he was going to have a record, and have to come up with bail money. His hands trembled in his lap. “Think bail will be high?”

“First time offender, no real physical evidence placing you near either of the murder scenes.” She shrugged. “Shouldn’t be. But I don’t know what Carter’s got that made him call me and promise to bring you in and hold you. He sounded pretty sure of himself.”

His vision blurred, and he removed his glasses to press the heels of his hands to his eyes. How had all of this happened? He wiped his eyes, put his glasses back on, and asked, “You believe I had nothing to do with all of this, don’t you?”